Latest news in Hungary - 18 Jul 2025

Hungary Bans Three Ukrainian Officials: In response to the death of József Sebestyén, Hungary has banned three Ukrainian military leaders from entering the country, following their placement on an EU sanctions list. With growing tensions, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó highlighted the importance of maintaining electricity and gas supplies to Ukraine, warning that strained relations could have serious consequences for Ukraine. Read more here

Manhunt for Romanian Murder Suspect: Hungarian and Romanian police are collaborating in a manhunt for a 37-year-old Romanian man suspected of murdering his partner and setting their home ablaze in Mezőméhes. Authorities urge the public to assist in locating him but caution against attempting to apprehend him directly. Read more here

Fuel Shortage at Ferenc Liszt International Airport: Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport is experiencing a temporary fuel shortage due to disruptions in its supply chain. Airlines are being advised to fill up at their departure airports to mitigate the impact, and while the situation is expected to last until July 31, flight delays or cancellations are not anticipated if airlines cooperate. Read more here

Tisza Party Introduces New Health Expert: Hegedűs Zsolt, a health expert and former member of the 1001 Doctors Without Gratuities movement, has joined the Tisza Party to leverage his experience from working in England to reform Hungary's healthcare system. Key initiatives include improving patient transparency, introducing hospital infection prevention measures, and advocating for better remuneration for healthcare workers. Read more here

Former President Novák’s Wardrobe Costs €80,000: During her presidency, Katalin Novák's wardrobe amounted to over €80,000 at taxpayer expense, with expenditures reaching up to €10,500 in her final months. Despite resigning earlier this year, she retained ownership of these luxury items, including dresses and tailored suits. Read more here

Hungarian Language Roots Traced to Siberia: A recent Harvard study suggests that the Uralic language family, including Hungarian, may originate from Northeast Siberia around 4,500 years ago, with DNA evidence linking Uralic speakers to ancestral Yakutian communities. While Finnish and Estonian people carry some genetic markers from this ancestry, modern Hungarians have little to no Yakut heritage, though it was more prevalent during the Middle Ages. Read more here

Óbuda Mayor Opposes Kneecap Performance at Sziget Festival: The Óbuda-Békásmegyer Municipality, led by Mayor László Kiss, supports a petition signed by over a hundred artists against the Belfast rap trio Kneecap's scheduled performance at the Sziget Festival, due to the band's controversial glorification of violence related to the October 7 terrorist attack against Israel. The municipality emphasizes its condemnation of racism and hate, while Kneecap remains part of an artistic alliance opposing Israeli actions in Gaza and is set to perform on August 11. Read more here

Hungarian Minister Critiques EU Budget Proposal: János Bóka, Hungary’s EU affairs minister, declared the European Commission's budget proposal unacceptable, citing concerns that 20% of funds would be allocated to Ukraine and criticizing the proposal's implications for European agriculture. With Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also dismissing the budget as the "budget of hopelessness," it seems significant negotiations lie ahead. Read more here

Hungarian Water Polo Team Advances to Semifinals: The Hungarian men's water polo team secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 15-11 victory over Romania, following a narrow defeat to Spain. They will face Croatia on Sunday, where a medal opportunity awaits, necessitating an improved performance against a historically challenging opponent. Read more here

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